Plymouth Argyle took promotion-chasers Leeds United to extra time on Tuesday in the FA Cup but were eventually picked apart. However, one Pilgrims star earned huge praise from head coach Ian Foster.
The visitors took the lead at Home Park after the hour mark through Wilfried Gnonto but his strike was cancelled out by Brendan Galloway 12 minutes from the end to bring the game to extra time. However, Leeds ran riot in the final half-hour as goals from Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter put the match beyond Plymouth’s reach before an own goal from Ryan Hardie hammered the final nail in the home side’s coffin.
Ian Foster shares his thoughts on Argyle's extra-time defeat to Leeds United in the @EmiratesFACup.
In partnership with @TheTurmericCo.
* Sorry for the poor audio – exceptionally wet camera #pafc
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) February 6, 2024
Despite being knocked out of the competition, there was a silver lining for the Pilgrims as winter signing Matthew Sorinola made his first start for the club. In fact, this was his first start in almost a year since his time with Swansea City.
Having joined in mid-January as a free agent, the 22-year-old was deployed as a left-wingback, although he was replaced just moments before Galloway bagged the equaliser for the hosts.
Foster even expressed his delight with Sorinola’s display for Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday night, claiming that he will be a “big asset” for the club going forward [quotes via Plymouth Live]:
“I was really pleased with him, he gives us another dimension. He has got 70-odd minutes into his legs, which is brilliant, for him and us.
“He’s going to be a big asset for us going forward. He’s a smashing player and he’s a smashing boy. I just asked him to empty the tanks and give us all he had got and then stick his hand up when he was done, and he did that,” he continued.
“That will do him the world of good in terms of his match minutes. We were really pleased with Matthew’s performance, and his energy, work ethic and quality.”
Writer’s View
The signing of Sorinola was wise by Plymouth Argyle. The defender is still only 22 and has plenty of room to get better but also has experience playing in England’s second tier based on his time at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Furthermore, Sorinola provides much-needed competition on the left-hand side for Mickel Miller and Bali Mumba, who also shifts over to the opposite side from time to time. There is certainly a chance for the new man to stake his claim as Foster’s first-choice left wingback by the end of the campaign.
Deputy Head of Writing